Fluid-pressure control



W. E. BAKER Dec. 10, 1929.

FLUID PRESSURE CONTROL Filed Aug. 22, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 10, 1929. w. E. BAKER FLUID PRESSURE CONTROL Filed Aug. 22, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet Patented Dec. 10, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM E. BAKER, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIG-NOR TO WILLIAM: EDGAR BAKER AND GEORGE ALTON FRANTZ AS TRUSTEES OF THE WEB ENGINEERING COD/IBANY,

A TRUST ESTATE, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO FLUID-PRESSURE CONTROL Application filed August 22, 1924. Serial No. 733,498.

This invention relates to a novel and improved control particularly adapted for use with a steam generator. lVhile I shall describe my invention as employed with a steam generator, it will be understood that it may be used with other apparatus and may be operated not only by steam, but by any other fluid, depending upon the character of apparatus with which my invention may be embodied.

The primary object of my invention is to provide means operated by pressure of steam or other fluid generated by a particular apparatus to control the generating means. More specifically my invention has for its object to provide a control for use in a steam generator employing an electric ignition means and in which the control will govern the circuit to said ignition means. This circuit may also include a motor used to supply air and fuel, and in that event, the control will govern the motor and the ignition.

A further object is to provide means operated by steam in a generator to control the amount of fuel being fed to the burner, which operates the generator.

A still further object is to provide a control which will govern the amount of air being fed to burner, which burner in turn generates the steam which operates the control.

A further object is to provide a control which may be set for any one of several desired pressures, whereby it may be employed with a steam generator where it is desirable to have the steam pressure maintained at Various points.

Further objects will become apparent during the progress of the description.

In the accompanying drawings, in which I have shown a selected embodiment of my invention Fig. 1 is an elevation of my control as applied to a steam generator burner.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

, Fig. 4 is a detail elevation of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 isa diagrammatic view-of my invention as applied to a steam apparatus.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Fig. 5, I have shown at 1 an oil tank which is intended to exemplify any suitable source of oil, which oil is fed through a pipe 2, valve 3 and pipe 4 to a pump 5 operated by a motor 6. The pump 5 forces the oil through pipe 7 to vaporizer 8 where it is vaporized and led through conduit 9 to the mixing chamber 10. The mixture passes from the chamber 10 to suitable burner tips 11 (Fig. 1). While the burner may be of any desired construction I have shown my invention as embodied in a burner of the type shown and claimed. in my copending application Serial No. 735,511 filed September 2, 1924.

As described in my aforesaid co-pending application the gas from the tips 11 is in tially ignited by a primary ignition plug 12 and current is also supplied to the vaporizer 8 to heat and vaporize the oil fed thereto. This vaporizer may be of any suitable construction, such as I have shown and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 729,381 filed July 31, 1924. After the temperature of the burner has reached a certain point the current to the vaporizer and primary ignition plug is shut off and the secondary ignition plug 13 is supplied with current. As described in said co-pending application this secondary ignition plug is provided as a safety means in case of accidental extinction of the flame from the tips 11. As also brought out in my aforesaid co-pending application the motor 6 begins to operate at the same time as the secondary ignition plug, and it may be said that the normal condition during operation of the burner is that which obtains during the time when the motor 6 and ignition plug 13 are in operation. The motor 6 not only operates the pump 5 to feed fuel to the vaporizer 8, but also operates a suitable blower 14 to supply air to the mixing chamber 10. My invention relates to means for controlling the apparatus during the time it is in this normal condition, as I have termed it, and therefore the circuits controlling the vaporizer and primary ignigenerating The connection 16 leads to the inner end 18 of a flattened tube 19 coiled in the spiral form shown in the drawings. The inner end 18 is rigidly connected to an arm 20 pivotally mounted at 21 upon the casing 22 wl'nc'h encloses the control, andthis arm 20 is provided at its free end with an elongated slot 23 embracing a bolt 24, whereby adjustment of said arm about its pivot is permitted, such adjustment aflecting the convolutions of this spirallyv wound member 19 for a purpose which will presently appear.

The spirally wound member 19 terminates ina tangent 25 provided with one or more buttons 26 adapted to contact with the push rods 27 and 28 of the switches 29 and 30 respectively, for a purpose which will presently appear. Pivoted to the extreme end of the tangent 25 is a link 31 pivoted to a lever 32 pivoted at 33 in the casing The pivot 33 extends through the casing 22 as shown in Fig. 2, and has mounted thereon exteriorly of the casing a lever 34 pivotally connected at its outer end with a linlr35, which in turn is pivotally connected with a crank arm 36 on one end of a spindle 37. The spindle 37 extends centrally through the passage 38 which communicates with the mixing chamber 10 and has mounted thereon the butterfly valve 39. The upper end of the spindle 37 is employed to operate the valve 3. This valve comprises an inlet 39', a vertical passage 40 controlled by the adjustable needle 41 and a passage 42 communicating with an outlet 43. It will be seen that oil or other fluid which is admitted to the inlet 39 will flow through the passages 40 and-42to the outlet 43 and that a turning of the stem44, which is integral with the spindle 37, will vary the amount of fuel which is permitted to pass through the outlet 43. In order that this amount may be properly regulated, the passage 42 is arranged in the form of an irregular. slot, which I have shown in Fig. 4 as being a spiral slot which, when the valve stem 44 is turned in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 4 to its greatest extent, will bring the extreme left end of the slot 42 into registry with the outlet 43. Any movement of the stem 44 in the direction opposite to that of the arrow in Fig. 4 will gradually decrease the cross-sectional area of the stream coming through the outlet 43 until it is completely shut off. It will be evident that adjustment of the needle valve41 by means of thehand'le 41 may be employed to completely close the ,valve and stop the flow of fuel. The position of the outlet 43 is indicated in Fig. 4 by dotted lines.

In operation, and assuming that steam is being generated and that the motor 6 is operating the pump 5 and blower 14, and further assuming that the secondary ignition plug 13 is lighted, steam will enter the coil 19 and as the pressure of the steam therein increases, the coil will tend to expand and force-the tangent end 25- thereof to'the right (Figs;- land 5'). l/Vhen the'pre'ssure' of-the ste'am'reaches a certain predetermined point, the switch 29 or 30 is operated. It is noted that these switchesare connected in parallel and are intended to be operated selectively by means of a control switch 45 which may be operated to send current through either switch 29 or 30. This control switch 45 may conveniently be mounted on an instrument board,- such as employed with a boat, or on' the dash board of an automobile, or in any other convenient location, and it is evident that it may thus be employed at a point remote from the generator and assoeiated'part-s. The lengths of the push rods 27 and 28 of the switches 29 and 30 are set to be operated by any desired pressures, for example, the switch 29 may be so arranged that it will be operated. when the pressure of steam reaches 100 pounds, and the switch 30 may be set to operate at a pressure of 600 pounds. It will, of course,be evident that the control switch 45 may be set so that neither switch 29 or 30 is in operation and the circuit to the motor and ignition plug will be entirely broken, thus rendering the burner inoperative, and-it will further be evident that any desired number of switches such as 29 and 30 may be employed. It, for example, the control switch 445 is setas shown in Fig. 5, current WllliPiLSS from the line 46 through switch 45, switch29, motor 6 and back to the line, a portion ofthe current passing through the ignition plug'13, which is in parallel with the motor 6. When thepressure of steam reaches the point for which the switch 29 is designed, the push rod 27 of said switch will be operated and the circuit will be opened at the switch 29, thereby cutting off the power to the motorand ignition plug, which will put out the burnerr Upon decrease of the steam pressure, which ofcourse will follow extinction of the burner, the tangent end 25 of the coil 19 will move towards the left Figs. 1 and5) and the springs 27 or 28", as the case may be, will force the push rods 27 or 28 to the left and thus close the switch which had been opened by the steam pressure. I have describedthe operation in connection with switch 29 and of course the same operation will take place in connection with switch 30'or with any other switch similarly placed, 7

At the same time that the tangent end 25 moves towards the right (Figs. 1 and 5) it will beevident thatzittwilloperateto close the butterfly valve 39 and the outlet 43 in the valve 3, that is, as the steam pressure increases, the amount of oil and air which is being fed to the burner to generate the steam will be decreased, and as the pressure decreases, the butterfly valve 39 and outlet 43 will be opened.

From the above it will be apparent that I have provided a novel and improved control which may be applied to a steam generator plant or the like, and in which the pressure of the steam which is generated by the burner will automatically control the burner, both by control of the ignition means and also by control of the supply of fuel and air. It should be noted that the supply of fuel and ir is controlled in two ways,by the valves 39 and 3, and by control of the motor which operates the pump 5 to feed fuel and the blower 14 to feed air. By making the spindle 37 and stem 44 integral or rigidly connected, I insure that the supplies of air and oil will be regulated proportionately. By employing a plurality of switches 29 and 30 adapted to be operated selectively by the control switch -45, I make it possible, for example, to employ my device in a steam generator in an automobile. One of the most frequently voiced criticisms of a steam automobile is that it takes considerable time to start. However, by employing my device I can close a switch set for comparatively low pressure such as 100 pounds and leave the automobile for the night, if desired, all that is necessary being a proper supply of oil and water. Then upon turning the control switch 4E5 to send the current through such a switch as 30, which is set for a higher pressure, the steam pressure begins to increase at once. In the meantime there is sufficient pressure available to start the car immediately or at least in a much shorter time than it usually takes to start a gasoline car. Of course other applications of my invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. I have found my device to be extremely simple to manufacture and efficient in operation, and it will be noted that its operation is entirely automatic and substantially fool-proof.

I am aware that changes in the form, construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and without sacrificing the advantages of the invention and I reserve the right to make all such changes as fairly fall within of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a burner, ignition means for said burner, a generator of fluid under pressure, a hollow spirally wound expansion member connected with said generator at one end, the other end extended tangentially, a valve spindle and cooperable the scope valves carried by said spindle, articulated connections between the said spindle and said tangential end for simultaneously controlling the flow of fuel and air to the burner.

2. In combination a burner, ignition means for said burner, a generator of fluid under pressure, cooperable valves for controlling the flow of air and fuel to the burner and having a common stern, a tubular expansion member having one end open to receive fluid from the generator, the other end of said member being articulately connected with the stem of said valves, the multiple ignition means, and the air and fuel supply to the burner being simultaneously controlled through the expansion of said member.

3. In combination, a burner, a fuel supply for said burner, means for igniting the fuel in said burner, a valve controlling said fuel supply, an air supply for said burner, a valve controlling said air supply, a generator of fluid under pressure operated by said burner, a motor for controlling said air and fuel supplies, an electric circuit for controlling said ignition means and said motor, and a single control operated by the pressure of said fluid and articulately connected with the stem of said valves to actuate them simultaneousl and governing the operation of said circuit and said valves.

1-. In combination, a generator of fluid under pressure, a burner for operating said generator, a fuel supply and air supply for said burner, valves controlling the flow of said fuel and said air and operating in unison, means for igniting the fuel in said burner, an electric circuit controlling said ignition means and said air and fuel supply, a switch controlling said circuit, and a single control connected to said valves and adapted to operate said switch and to simultaneously actuate said valves to control the supply of fuel and air to the burner, said control being operated by said fluid.

5. A fluid pressure control comprising a fuel burner, means for supplying fuel to said burner and comprising a pump and a valve, means for generating fluid under pressure, pressure sensitive means controlled by said fluid, means responsive to said pressure sensitive means for controlling said pump, and means mechanically connecting the pressure sensitive means with said fuel valve for automatically controlling the volume of flow of fuel to the burner.

6. A fluid pressure control comprising a fluel burner, means for supplying fuel and 7 air to said burner and comprising a fuel pump, a fuel valve and an air valve, said valves being connected for CODJOlIlt opera- .tion, means for generating fluid under pressure, pressure sensitive means controlled by said fluid, means responsive thereto for controlling said pump, and means mechanically connecting the pressure sensitive means and said fuel and air valves for automatically cii controlling the volume of flow of fuel and of air to the burner.

7. A fluid pressure control comprising a. fuel burner, means for supplying fuel and air to said burner and comprising a motor driven pump and blower, a fuel valve and an air valve, said valves being connected for conjoint operation,- means for generating fluid under pressure, pressure sensitive means controlled by said fluid, means operated by said pressure sensitivemeans for controlling said motor driven pump and blower, and means mechanically connecting the pressure sensitive means and said fueltand air valves for automaticall controllin the fuel su )l and the ai'rsupply and the volume of flow here f to the burner.

8. A fluid pressure control comprising a fuel burner, means for supplying fuel to the burner and comprising a valve and a pump,

means for supplying air to the burner and comprising a valve and a blower, an electric motor for operating the pump and blower, means for generating fluid under pressure, pressure sensitive means controlled by said fluid, means mechanically connecting the pressure sensitive means with the fuel and air valves for automatically controlling the fuel and air supplies to the burner, an electric e circuit including said motor, and selective air valves for automatically controlling the fuel and air supplies and the volume of flow thereof to the burner, an electric circuit including said motor, and selective means in said circuit adapted to be operated by the ;pressure sensitive means for controlling the operation of the QUEllP Stlld selective means operating with said mechanical means to shut off the fueland air valves ant to stop the motor conjointly. I v r 10. A fluid pressure control comprising a fuel burner, means for supplying fuel to the burner and comprising a valve and a pump, means for supplying airto the'burner and comprising a valve and a blower, an electric motor for operating the pump and blower,

of to the'burner, an-electric circuit including said motor, and selective means in said circuit adapted to be operated by the pressure sensitive means for controlling the operation of the pump, said selective means being adapted to be operated under different pressures by said pressure sensitive means, wherebyto shut off the fuel andair valves and to stop the motorconjointly, i WILLIAM E. BAKER.

means for generating fluid under pressure pressure sensitlve means controlled by said; flu d, means mechanically connecting the and air supplies, and the volume of flow therepressure sensitive means with the fuel and air I valves for automatically controlling the fuel 

